The man accused by the FBI of plotting to kill women in a mass shooting at Ohio State University was already convicted at the state level, served his full sentence and had applied to go to college.
Tres Genco was arrested this week by federal authorities on charges that he attempted a hate crime and unlawfully possessed a machine gun.
An Ohio county prosecutor said it took over 15 months from the time federal authorities were made aware of Genco until he was charged this week. In the meantime, the entire local case had been wrapped up.
According to the FBI, the 21-year-old is a self-professed Incel, short for involuntarily celibate.
"The Incel movement is an online community of predominantly men who harbor anger towards women," U.S. Attorney Vipal Patel stated in a press release. "Incels advocate violence in support of their belief that women unjustly deny them sexual or romantic attention to which they believe they are entitled."
Genco was arrested in March 2020 after someone close to him called police and said he may be threat to himself or others. It was during that investigation that police discovered plans for a mass shooting and a "manifesto."
The document Genco allegedly penned said women had ignored him, and he expressed admiration for another mass killer who targeted a sorority in California.
"I will slaughter out of hatred, jealousy, and revenge," the alleged manifesto states. "I will take away the power of life that they withhold from me."
Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said law enforcement there contacted the FBI the same night as the arrest but never heard anything back.
Collins charged Genco with making terroristic threats. His attorney claimed he was not guilty by reason of insanity, according to court documents, but after a psychological evaluation, he was found competent to stand trial.
In October 2020, Genco was sentenced to 17 months in jail, one month short of the maximum sentence for the charge. He was given credit for over seven months for the time he spent in jail during the court proceedings.
In February, Genco was released from the North Central Correctional Institution, state records show. His period of state probation was due to end in August.
Since his release, he has applied to attend college. Columbus State Community College confirmed to The Enquirer Thursday that Genco had applied, but had not registered or taken any classes.
A Facebook account – which appears to belong to Genco – includes many public posts since his release. The most recent is from last week: "It's not the mistake that matters. It's how you deal with it, what you learn from it, and how you apply that lesson to your life."
Prosecutor Collins said she's surprised it took so long for the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office to bring charges against Genco. She said it wasn't until a few months ago that anyone from the federal level contacted her about the case.
Genco is now being held at the Butler County Jail awaiting a detention hearing on Friday before Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.
The charge of attempting a hate crime carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The weapons charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
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